Orthopedic device



Aprifi 25, 1967 s. w. YODER ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Flled June 17, 1964 April 25, 1967 s. w. YODER 3,315,667

ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE Filed June 17, 1964 2SheetS-5heet 2 United States Patent 3,315,667 ORTHOPEDIC DEVICE Stanley W. Yoder, 1823 E. 17th St, Little Rock, Ark. 72202 Filed June 17, 1964, Ser. No. 375,801 3 Claims. (Cl. 128-74) This invention relates to orthopedic devices, and more particularly to back stretchers of the couch type.

Among the several objects of this invention may be noted the provision of an improved couch-type back stretcher for treatment of the back; the provision of a back stretcher of the class describe-d by means of which the muscles of the back may be stretched and relaxed; and the provision of a back stretcher of the class described by means of which back muscles may be alternately stretched and relaxed with muscles on one side of the spine being stretched while muscles on the other side of the spine are relaxed. Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the constructions hereinafter described, the scope of the invention being indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which one of various possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated,

FIG. 1 is a plan, partially broken away, illustrating a back stretcher of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the back stretcher of FIG. 1;

FIG, 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, partial cross section taken along the line 44 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial cross section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective on a smaller scale illustrating the back stretcher folded for storage or shipping;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged transverse cross section taken along the line 77 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a top plan on a smaller scale showing various positions of one of the couch sections of the back stretcher during use thereof.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, a back stretcher of this invention is shown in its entirety at 1 and includes a first couch or table section 3, which may be referred to as the stationary section, and a second couch or table section 5, which may be referred to as the movable section. These sections are mounted on a collapsible frame 7. The couch or table section 5 is adapted to be movable relative to the couch section 3 so that a patient can recline on the couch with the hips and lower portions of the body on the section 3 and with the back and head resting on the section 5 and the section 5 can then be moved to stretch and relax the back muscles.

The collapsible frame 7 includes two generally U-shaped portions 9 and 11 which are connected together by a hinge pin 13 passing through frame portion 11 and hinge members 14 depending from frame portion 9 or couch section 3. The frame can be reinforced by a cross frame member 15. Legs 17, 19 and 21 are connected to the U-shaped frame portions 9 and 11 to support same and each of the legs can be of generally U-shape configuration as illustrated in the drawings and are preferably pivotally connected to the frame portions 9 and 11 so that they may be folded or collapsed for shipping or storage of the back stretcher. The leg 19 can be mounted on the pivot 13 connecting frame portions 9 and 11, and the legs 17 and 21 can be mounted on pivots 23. The legs 17, 19 and 21 are preferably of various lengths to support 3,315,667 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 the couch sections in a plane that is inclined relative to the supporting surface with couch section 5 lower than couch section 3.

When the legs 17, 19 and 21 are hingedly mounted, collapsible support means can be provided. Leg support means are shown generally at 25 and include arms 27 connected to the U-shaped frame portions 9 and 11 and arms 29 connected to the legs 1'7, 19 and 21. The arms 27 and 29 are connected together by a pivot 31 and can be held in generally aligned relation by a Ushaped sleeve or cover 33 carried by the pivot 31 and enclosing the sides and upper portions of the arms 27 and 29 as shown in FIG. 5. When mounted as shown in the drawings, the legs 17 fold to a position adjacent the bottom of couch section 3 and legs 19 and 21 fold to a position adjacent the bottom of couch section 5. The couch sections are then movable about pivot 13 to the folded position shown in FIG. 6 for transportation or storage of the back stretcher.

The couch sections 3 and 5 can be of similar construction and each has a base member 35 and a resilient padding member 37 which can be made of foam or other suitable materials. The couch sections 3 and 5 can be enclosed by a cover 39, FIG. 4. Couch section 3 is fastened to the U-shaped portion 9 of the frame 7 and 1s stationary relative to the frame.

The back stretcher 1 includes support means for movably mounting or supporting the couch section 5 on the -shaped portion 11 of frame 7. A portion of the support means is best illustratedin FIG. 4 where a bracket 41 is shown mounted on the base member 35 of the couch section 5 and mounts a roller 43 which has a curved surface to substantially matingly engage a section of the -shaped portion 11 of the frame 7. The bracket 41 preferably includes a depending arcuate portion 45 which is adjacent the frame portion 11 and is spaced therefrom so that the bed section 5 can be transversely moved relative to the support 11 with the portion 45 of bracket 41 limiting movement of the roller 43 and couch section 5 and preventing them from being inadvertently removed from the frame section 11 during this movement of the couch section. As shown in FIG. 1, two of the rollers 43 are provided and are mounted along side edges of the couch section 5 at the end adjacent to the couch section 3. The sides of portion 11 of frame 7 provide rails on which the rollers 43 ride. The portions 45 of brackets 41 are outside of the rails of frame section 11 in both instances.

The other end portion of the couch section 5 has bearings 47 (FIG. 7) connected to the lower surface thereof and the bearings 47 mount a shaft 49 which can move axially through the bearings 47. Rollers 51 are mounted on the ends of shaft 49 and are similar to the rollers 43. Rollers 51 engage and ride on the rails or sides of the U-shaped portion 11 of the frame 7. Since bearings 47 can slide on the shaft 49, the couch section 5 is movable transversely relative to the frame section 11 as well as being movable longitudinally along the. frame by use of the rollers 51 and 43.

The support means for the couch section 5 permits the couch section to be moved relative to the frame in a manner somewhat similar to that illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings, the couch being shown in the normal position in the solid lines with various possible positions of the couch section 5 being illustrated in the dashed lines in FIG. 8. It will be understood that couch section 5 can also be moved longitudinally only if desired.

Resilient means can be provided to permit limited relative movement between the couch sections 3 and 5 and to urge couch section 5 toward couch section 3. As best illustrated in FIG. 1 of the drawings, a helical spring 53 is connected to center portions of adjacent end portions of the couch sections 3 and 5 and is located on the lower surface thereof. Normally the spring 53 is under tension so that movement of couch section 5 away from couch section 3 is opposed by the tension of the spring 53 and thus the resilient means tends to continually urge the couch section 5 toward couch section 3 and in addition limits movement of couch section 5 relative to couch section 3. By use of the single helical spring 53 the couch section 5 is not limited in the type of movement obtained, that is, it can still move both longitudinally and transversely relative to the supporting frame 7. Other resilient means, such as rubber bands, can be used instead of the helical spring.

In use, a patient can recline on the couch 1 by placing his hips and lower extremities 0n the stationary couch section 3 and placing his shoulders and head on the couch section 5, and the incline of the couch sections 3, 5 and the mobility of the section 5 places the patients back under traction. The couch section 5 can be moved longitudinally on the frame 7, transversely on the frame 7, or a combination of longitudinal or transverse movements can be obtained to manipulate the back under traction. Normally, when a combination longitudinal and transverse movement is desired, the movable couch section 5 is, in effect, rocked in its plane about opposite corners of the movable section adjacent to the fixed section 3 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 8 of the drawings.

Back pain is frequently caused by muscle spasms which may be caused by pinched nerves. Manipulation of the couch of the invention results in alternately stretching and relaxing of the back muscles to thereby eliminate some or all of the pain in the back caused by muscle spasms by relaxing the back muscles. By combining longitudinal and transverse movement of the couch section 5 as shown in FIG. 8, the muscles on one side of the spine will be stretched while those on the other side of the spine are relaxed, and subsequently the stretched muscles will be relaxed and the relaxed muscles stretched.

Mechanical drive means such as indicated at 55 may be provided to attain the stated rocking action of the couch section 5 relative to couch section 3. This drive is shown as comprising an electric motor 57 acting through a speed-reducing gear box 59 to drive an output shaft 61. Motor 57 and its associated gear box are carried by a bracket 63 secured to the bottom of section 5. Shaft 61 carries a crank 65. A connecting rod 67 is pin-connected at 69 to the crank and pin-connected at 71 to a block 73 fastened on shaft 49. The arrangement is such that when motor 57 is energized to rotate the crank 65 about the axis of shaft 61, a side-to-side rocking motion such as illustrated in FIG. 8 is imparted to movable couch section 5. Bearings 47 are slidable on shaft 49 and rollers 43 and 51 are capable of sufiicient skewing movement with respect to the side rails of frame member 9 to permit the stated rocking movement of section 5. The movement of the couch section 5 away from couch section 3 is limited by the resilient means 53 which limits movement of the couch section 5 and prevents couch section 5 from rolling down off the frame portion 11.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the movable couch section 5 can be moved by the weight of gravity with the patient resting on the couch or the couch section 5 can be manually or mechanically rocked from sideto-side to obtain the desired back stretching and manipulating operations. While a particular drive means has been shown which gives rise to desirable lateral rocking movement of the couch section 5, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that other mechanical drive means can be utilized to obtain the desired movement.

In view of the above it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. A back stretcher comprising, in combination, a frame, a first couch section mounted on said frame, a second couch section, support means movably supporting said second couch section on said frame for arcuately transversal movement thereof relative to said first couch section, and resilient means connected to adjacent portions of said first and second couch sections to permit limited relative movement therebetween, said support means including a shaft having rollers mounted thereon and engaging said frame, and a bearing mounted on said second couch section and slidably receiving said shaft.

2. The back stretcher as defined in claim 1 additionally including drive means having an arm connected to said shaft, and power means mounted on said second couch section and operatively connected to said arm so that operation of said power means causes movement of said power means and said second couch section.

3. A back stretcher comprising, in combination, a frame, legs supporting said frame, a first couch section mounted on said frame, a second couch section, support means movably mounting said second couch section for longitudinal and arcuately transversal movement on said frame, and drive means operatively connected to said second couch section to rock the latter from side-to-side on said frame, said support means including a shaft having rollers mounted thereon and engaging said frame for longitudinal movement on said frame, and a bearing mounted on said second couch section and slidably receiving said shaft to permit transverse movement of said second couch section on said shaft.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,138,030 5/1915 Weston 128-70 2,693,796 11/1954 Warner 12833 3,052,235 9/1962 Stewart 128-33 FOREIGN PATENTS 28,249 1907 Great Britain.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. ROBERT E. MORGAN, Examiner. J. W. HINEY, 1a., Assistant Examiner. 

1. A BACK STRETCHER COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, A FRAME, A FIRST COUCH SECTION MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, A SECOND COUCH SECTION, SUPPORT MEANS MOVABLY SUPPORTING SAID SECOND COUCH SECTION ON SAID FRAME FOR ARCUATELY TRANSVERSAL MOVEMENT THEREOF RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST COUCH SECTION, AND RESILIENT MEANS CONNECTED TO ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID FIRST AND SECOND COUCH SECTIONS TO PERMIT LIMITED 